Ballantini: Peavy’s ‘discomfort’ sets return back

Monday, April 18, 2011
Posted: 9:20 p.m.

By Brett Ballantini
CSNChicago.com

ST. PETERSBURG, FLChicago White Sox starter Jake Peavy only lasted 15 pitches on Monday night before leaving his rehabilitation start for AA Birmingham with what the team is only disclosing as discomfort.

More bad news for the White Sox, manager Ozzie Guillen said after his team dropped a 5-0 runaway to the Tampa Bay Rays. Im worriedhes my player. Its a setback for him. Hopefully tomorrow, we have better news. We want him here, but we have to be patient.

Peavy surrendered four hits and three runs, retiring just two batters, vs. AA Mississippi. A two-run double from Donell Linares opened the gates and ex-White Sox farmhand C.J. Retherford piled on with an RBI single.

Just two days ago, Peavy threw a 34-pitch bullpen session at U.S. Cellular Field and gave a succinct, nice and easy, nothing crazy, assessment of his work, citing a goal of merely wanting to work both sides of the plate. On Saturday he had also outlined a goal of rejoining the White Sox between April 25 and 28, as the team finishes its 11-day, 11-game, three-city road trip. After his final rehab start for the Barons, Peavy was due to throw a final minor-league outing for AAA Charlotte on April 23 and set his major league debut as April 28 at Yankee Stadium or April 29 at home vs. the Baltimore Orioles.

While there is no official diagnosis for Peavy, such an unexpected development is sure to push his return to the majors until May at the earliest, presumably adding at least one additional rehabilitation start to his docket.